Do you have any spare change?”

Over break I strolled through the streets of Washington, D.C. In addition to seeing the sights of our nation’s capital, like the Lincoln Memorial, the Constitution and the Vietnam wall, I also encountered scores of people begging for money.

It seemed ironic that on a holiday meant for thanking God for our blessings and gifts I should see so many people who had nothing. My natural instinct was to pull out my wallet and share what little wealth I had.

Yet, something held me back. I was under strict instructions from my family and friends that when visiting a big city, I was not supposed to throw away money on beggars. They would just buy their next drink, they said.

The internal debate began. Growing up, I had always been taught that it was right to share. My brother and sisters were expected to split the last two pieces of cake or cookies up evenly and give an equal piece to the neighbor kid if he was around. Being selfish was definitely bad.

My church has also always emphasized the importance of giving. Even non-Christians are often familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan — a man who helps another who was not of his own kind when no others would stop to assist him.

“Spare change, ma’am?”

I shook my head and kept walking, feeling lower than the scuffed sidewalk beneath my feet. One day we passed a man with ripped pants, a thin jacket and a big bag that had seen better days.

He walked towards the Jefferson Memorial with a purpose and, to my relief, didn’t stop us with any pleas for money. I was sad watching him, wondered if he had a home, a warm jacket or even breakfast in his stomach that morning.

“What a joke,” said my D.C. hostess, who had lived in the city for about a year. “That is so fake. He probably comes here every day. It’s the tourists that give them money, they know that.”

Suddenly I felt very naive. Perhaps it’s best I don’t live in the big city. The trusting Iowa girl in me just assumes that everything and everyone is what it seems.

From then on, every panhandler I saw brought another round of the raging internal debate. Should I give, should I not give? Will they use it for food or alcohol? Do I even have the right to care what they use the money for?

With the Christmas season close at hand (I suppose we’re a good month into it if you work in the merchandise field), giving to those who are less fortunate becomes even more important.

Opportunities to share the spirit of the season are everywhere — donation boxes for the local food pantry, collections for Toys for Tots, clothes drives — so many ways to help people out.

For these activities I have no bars holding me back. I try to remember my cans of peas and pork and beans to put in my church’s food-drive box. I sort through clothes I no longer wear but are in decent condition to give to somebody else who needs them.

Why is there no internal debate here? I don’t wonder if the families receiving toys from the Story County Christmas Closet are feigning need for assistance. I assume if a family is willing to accept a box of food and toys, they truly are having a rough time and need a hand to get through the holidays.

While I don’t understand the difference, I do understand I can’t change the past. I didn’t share, I didn’t give and I didn’t feel good about it. After thinking about it, my debate came to this conclusion: I guess I would rather give the money and have them use it for whatever they need — be it food, alcohol or cigarettes — than not give and wonder if they had enough cash to buy a cheap meal.

However, my behavior reflects my thoughts in the future, one thing is for certain — being thankful on Thanksgiving Day has never been easier.

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Joanne Roepke is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Aurora.